, 1887-11-02

md replace it. If this could be done and
the cable cut, VIC could steam up stream
IN spite of u enemies. Dropping the
anchor and making the tug secure. we
arranged rude davits over the stern of the
boat and searched for the missing wheel
with n grappling hook. One of the deck
hands watched the opposite side of the
river while we searched diligently for the
wheel. After a quarter of an hours
search our hook struck "A piece of iron
which turned out to be the greatly
priced wheel.
1t was so deeply imbedded in the mud
II sticks that it took some time before
we could raise it, and the difficulty of
putting it in place was increased by
darkness. 1t was finally put in place,
however, and we were congratulating
ourselves on our success, when the deck
hand. who was keeping watch, suddenly
whispered in a warning voice: Here
they come"
About fifty yards up stream, a dark
object could be seen floating gradually
with the tide. At first we were unable
to make out the meaning of this, but, as
the current drew it nearer it was easy to
see that the object was q raft. 1t had
been formed no doubt by lashing heavy
HpSo lDbtlhtL anu COISLTuCIlIH OH IOD u
breastwork of smaller sticks and brush-
wood. Behind this breastwork our enc
mics were resting, beyond the reach of
our firearms. The current would bring
the raft directly alongside of our boat,
and the chances were that they could
board us before we could get a shot at
them.
Our case seemed to be getting more
desperate. We seemed to find our way
out of n difficulty only to fall into a
more dangerous one. Grasping our rifles,
we stood for a full minute watching the
approaching craft, unable to act. 1 then
rang the ball to start ahead. We could
not proceed up the river far, for the cable
still barred the passageway, and to me
the only way of escape hat seemed left
was to run the raft down..
This was a desperate expedient, for the
raft was composed of logs as large, if not
larger, than the timbers of the tug, I
felt that there was one chance in a hun
dred for us. If the prov of our boat
could strike between two of the heavy
logs, and part the bands that held them
together, we could escape without dam.
aging our boat to any great extent. With
this object in view, the machinery was
set in motion. The stern wheel began to
churn the water savagefy, and the loud
snorting Of the steam startled the echoes
in the forest. Then, with a few wild
bounds, the small vessel began to shoot
through the water with good speed.
Every revolution of the wheel added one
more advantage to our side of the ques-
ton. The greater the speed we could
get, the better would be our chance of
withstanding the force of the collision.
The men on the raft seemed discon-
certed at the sudden change in the pro-
gramme, for dark heads could be seen
moving about above the br~eastworks.
They realized the danger of a collision,
but, after a moments alarm, they be-
came quiet.
The water of the muddy stream foamed
about our prows and rolled toward the
banks in long, heavy swells. The raft
alone remained in still water. When
within three yards of the huge raft. the
machinery was stopped, and a loud, shrill
whistle went up from the iron throat of
the engine.
The echoes had scarcely died away,
when there was & terrific shock, fol-
lowed by a recoil, and then a forward
bound. The bow of the boat had struck
between two of the central logs, and rent
the bands that bound them together, tear
ing straight through to the stern end of
the raft. Separated in two parts. the
logs began to roll away in different di-
rections, while the discounted boat
wreckers chung desperately to them. Two
white upturned faces in the water told us
the fate of some of our enemies, while
the others loated silently along down
stream, unable to reach the shore or do
anything to help themselves. Fearing
lest our craft was injured, we headed
straight for the bank and made an ex-
animation. Fortunately the damage was
all above the water line, and we could
proceed on our journey without much
risk. h cable was quickly parted from
the tree to which it was tied and cast off
into the river.
Near the tree several boxes and bundles
were discovered, evidently belonging to
our enemies, which, in spite of our ex-
element, we threw OF the deck of the
steamer before starting. Just as two of
the gang reached the bank of the river.
all dripping with mud and water, the
prov of our boat was headed up stream,
and with a goodby whistle to our dis
comfitted enemies We resumed our jour
ney. A few loud curses did not give us
any fear, but made us smile.
The next morning we reached the end
of our journey. Our boxes and bundles
were then opened and an amount of
wealth discovered that made our eyes
dance with delight. As we subsequently
learned a number of daring robberies had
been going on in the n~eighborhood of the
ARRAY for some weeks past. The money
and jewels taken from the houses had
been collected in the forest, and it was
evidently the intention of the robbers to
carry them away to another city by
pressing our steamer into their service.
We received the rewards offered for the
contents of the stolen boxes and bundles.
George Z. Walsh in The Epoch.